2016 Rubiton Stakes Winner Heatherly Onto Oakleigh Plate

Flying young filly Heatherly flew under the light weight for a smashing six length win in the Rubiton Stakes 2016 that she’ll look to repeat in a fortnight stepping up in grade for an Oakleigh Plate bid.

Smart filly Heatherly is set for the 2016 Oakleigh Plate after winning the Rubiton Stakes on CF Orr Stakes Day at Caulfield. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The three-year-old daughter of Lonhro posted her third win on the trot this time in for Flemington trainers Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra, handling her assignment in the $200,000 Group 2 Schweppes Rubiton Stakes (1100m) on CF Orr Stakes Day in impressive style.

She came into the race after wins at Moonee Valley and Flemington respectively in January in easier company, and jumped the $5 easing favourite in the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au for her Group 2 test.

Jockey Katelyn Mallyon replaced Damian Lane in the saddle so the filly could make her 51kg light weight under the set weights plus penalties of the Rubition, which proved very advantageous.

Mallyon had the favourite spearing through up the middle to lead and set a hot pace as the $101 roughie of the field Just A Bullet shot up into second just ahead of the returning Éclair Choice.

Returning Myer Classic winning mare Politeness meanwhile was back off the speed between runners not looking a chance midway through the run.

Heatherly ($5) cornered very nicely and led into the straight before flying home so easily defeat her rivals by six lengths.

In a brave effort late not being ready to win first-up was the Robert Smerdon-trained Politeness ($6) who made up lots of late ground to finish second while the outsider in betting Just A Bullet ($101) held for surprise third.

“She had 51 (kilos) on her back and certainly did it quite comfortably today,” Mallyon said after guiding Heatherly to victory in a sharp 1:02.21.

“She scooted along and got nice easy sectionals early, and she finished off lovely.”

Plans from the winning stable are now to back Heatherly up back at Caulfield in a fortnight on Blue Diamond Stakes Day, February 27, for a shot at the $500,000 Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) where she’ll get in on a nice light weight again.

“Obviously we’ve got her pretty right and it showed today,” Ellerton said.

“She took a huge amount of improvement going into today.

“Let’s hope we can go on in another fortnight.

“Three-year-old fillies haven’t got a bad record in it (the Oakleigh Plate).

“All being well that’s the way she’ll head.”

Heatherly was the first filly in history to win the Group 2 Rubition Stakes, but the three-year-olds females have a stronger Oakleigh Plate with the last to win being Miss Kournikova (2011).

To back Heatherly next race in the 2016 Oakleigh Plate at the hottest Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival odds, head to Ladbrokes.com.au now!